Materials

Each material used presents its own challenges. We carefully choose the materials for our products based on their intended use, as material choices affect both people and the environment.  

Our aim is to reduce our environmental impact, and we design our products to be as durable as possible in terms of time and use.  

Cotton

Soft and breathable cotton is one of the most commonly used fibres in our products. Clothes made from cotton are breathable and do not irritate the skin. Cotton rarely causes allergic reactions. Cotton is a strong and durable fabric that is easy to dye. Cotton fibre is natural, renewable and biodegradable, but large amounts of water, pesticides and fertilisers are used in cotton farming. Wherever possible, we choose either organic cotton or recycled cotton instead of conventional cotton.  

Organic cotton

Organic cotton is grown without artificial fertilisers, chemical pesticides or genetically modified cotton seeds. It is a third-party, certified raw material and is kept separate from other raw materials throughout the process: from the field to the product. Instead of conventional farming, which depletes the soil, organic farming improves the quality of soil. 

RECYCLED COTTON 

Recycled cotton can be either a by-product of textile mill processes or made from old clothes. As a material, recycled cotton is not, as yet, resistant to wear and tear on its own, so it is mixed with conventional cotton or other blends when it is used in products. 

better cotton initiative

BCI is a non-profit organisation that is working to make global cotton production more sustainable for both the environment and farmers. The project aims to make conventional cotton farming more environmentally friendly worldwide. Stockmann joined the BCI in 2019. 

viscose

Viscose is a regenerated fibre that is made from bleached sulphite cellulose. The cellulose raw material is usually birch or spruce, but it can also be beech, eucalyptus, reed or bamboo.

ecovero viscose

Viscose is made from cellulose, where the raw material is broken down into fibres using chemicals. Our collections are mainly made using EcoVeroTM viscose, which contains fibres from responsibly managed forests. Factories producing EcoVeroTM viscose have been awarded the official EU Ecolabel. 

RECYCLED POLYESTER 

Recycled polyester is made from waste plastic. It is produced from recycled bottles, industrial off-cuts, used polyester clothing and plastic waste collected from the sea. PET stands for a type of plastic called polyethylene terephthalate. The chemical recycling of polyester does not degrade the quality of the man-made fibre, so the material produced is as good as new. Virgin polyester, also known as conventional polyester, is made from petroleum, which is a non-renewable natural resource. The use of recycled polyester reduces the consumption of our limited natural resources, as there is no need to use virgin raw materials. The production of recycled polyester also requires less water and chemicals than conventional polyester.  

lyocell

Lyocell is one of the most common regenerated cellulose fibres, and its brand name is Tencel®. Lyocell is a more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional viscose, as less energy and harmful chemicals are used in its production, and 99 per cent of the chemicals used in its manufacturing can be recycled for reuse. The raw material used to make lyocell is usually fast-growing eucalyptus or other cellulosic raw materials. Lyocell’s moisture balance is twice that of cotton, so knitted fabric made from lyocell has a cooling and warming effect. Lyocell knitted fabric has strong, bright colours that do not fade with washing. The fabric has a matte sheen and it feels soft and silky and hangs beautifully. 

wool

Wool is a soft, natural fibre that stays in good condition for a long time when properly looked after. Wool has temperature regulating properties and is suitable for use in both cold and warm conditions. Wool absorbs moisture, transferring it away from the skin. Unlike synthetic materials, wool naturally decomposes within a few years. The lanolin contained in wool makes the material naturally repellent to dirt, water and odours. 

RESPONSIBLE WOOL

The Responsible Wool Standard certificate guarantees that the animals have been well-treated and fed responsibly. The entire production process is responsible.

RECYCLED WOOL 

Recycled wool is a natural fibre made from raw materials such as industrial surplus (yarn and knitting waste) and used woollen garments. Recycled wool is not durable on its own as a material, so it is blended with conventional wool or used in other blends. 

Merino wool

Merino wool comes from Merino sheep, which are farmed mainly in New Zealand and Australia. The wool fibres from Merino sheep are clearly longer and thinner than in normal wool. Merino wool is lightweight, warm and effectively draws moisture away from the skin. All Merino wool used in our own brands is mulesing-free. 

Cashmere

Cashmere wool is a fine-quality wool from cashmere goats that live high up in the Asian mountains. Cashmere wool is finer, softer and warmer than other wools. It caresses the skin, is light, breathable and delicate. Cashmere wool can be cleaned by airing and it only rarely needs to be washed. 

alpaca

Alpaca is a soft material that is warmer, lighter and stronger than sheep’s wool. Alpaca wool does not contain lanolin, the wool fat contained in sheep wool, and it is not coarse like sheep’s wool, which means it is suitable for many people with wool allergies. Alpaca fibre is obtained from the alpaca, a South American camelid that is closely related to the llama. Products made from alpaca wool should be treated in the same way as the finest wool: they should be hand-washed with a wool detergent at max 40°C. 

Responsible Mohair

Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS) certification ensures that the mohair comes from responsible farmers who take into account the welfare of the sheep, workers and soil. 

silk

Silk is the fibre spun from the cocoons of silk moth larvae and the fabric made from this. Silk is a highly valued fabric in garments due to its good qualities such as shine, softness and strength. The popularity of silk is based on its many good qualities. Silk fibre is flexible and strong. Because silk has good thermal insulation properties, it provides warmth but still feels cool. Silk feels pleasant against the skin, as its texture and moisture content are similar to those of the skin. Even though it is strong, silk is lightweight. Silk neutralises odours, repels dirt and is fire-safe. Silk can often be cleaned by airing alone. 

linen

Linen is made from the flax plant whose stalks are used to make highly durable textile fibre. Linen textiles have unique antibacterial properties. Linen’s properties include breathability, strength and beautiful sheen, but also stiffness and its tendency to wrinkle. Linen is washed in plenty of water at 60°C or 40°C, separately from the other garments, as it wrinkles easily and can shed lint and surface dye. 

Responsible Down

The down used in our own brands is responsibly produced. The Responsible Down Standard certificate guarantees that animals have been treated well. The animals are fed responsibly and no down or feathers are taken from live animals. Responsible production methods are used throughout the production chain. 

lwg = leather working group

LWG is a global, non-profit multi-stakeholder community. LWG is committed to building a sustainable future and driving positive social and environmental change through responsible leather production. LWG guarantees product certification for certified and audited leather products that have been produced with manufacturing processes that meet a responsible operating model.  LWG leather is used in Stockmann Own Brand´s accessories.

VEGETABLE-TANNED OR SEMI-TANNED LEATHER 

Tannins, which are plant extracts, transform animal rawhide into a durable material, which is called vegetable-tanned leather. These natural materials are extracted from different species of trees and plants. They are found in the bark, leaves, fruit and roots of trees. The colours are natural and may vary. Leather and leather products age beautifully and are durable.  

RECYCLED PLASTIC

Plastic is a valuable and useful raw material that can be reused. In the recycling process, plastics are first collected and then processed into a suitable form, after which the plastic is reused as a product material or recovered as energy. Stockmann Own Brand´s sunglasses are made from recycled plastic.

Our product policies 

The Stockmann Group’s divisions draw up policies concerning product ranges and purchasing operations as necessary. Our product policies can be found below. 

DENIM TREATMENTS 

The sandblasting process, which is banned in the EU and Turkey, is not used on the own-brand denim clothing sold at Stockmann department stores and Lindex. Giving jeans a ‘worn’ look using the sandblasting method can be hazardous to workers’ health if it is carried out without proper protective equipment or training. To avoid this risk, we do not order products from factories with sandblasting equipment.  

ANIMAL RIGHTS   

We respect animal rights in our operations and require the same of our goods suppliers.  

angora wool

Angora wool must be taken from rabbits in a way that respects the animals’ rights ensuring that the procedure does not cause them any pain.Stockmann department stores’ own fashion brand selections only accept Angora wool products from suppliers that can prove the exact origin of the Angora wool and that the animals have been well-treated. Lindex has discontinued the use of angora wool from its selections for the time being.  

LEATHER AND FUR  

The leather products in our range must be made from by-products of the food industry. We do not sell furs made from fur animals. Fur trimmings have not been used in Stockmann’s own brand products since 2021. There is a limited number of products with fur trimmings in Stockmann’s fashion range of third-party brands and in accordance the EU Textile Regulation these must have a label that reads: ‘Contains non-textile parts of animal origin’. There are no fur products in Lindex’s selections.   

FEATHERS AND DOWN  

Feathers used in products must be by-products of poultry production. We do not accept the plucking of feathers from live birds.   

sustainability report

Read more about the Stockmann division’s sustainability work from the Group’s sustainability report.

read more